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Sarah McNeice 1853 - 1903

AntrimBelfast (Antrim)

I am researching my 3rd great grandmother Sarah McNeice born about 1853 in Belfast, parents were Samuel McNeice and Susanna Allen. Sarah was 19 years old when she married husband Peter Patrick Finnie in Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland 1872. Sarah was living with her parents prior to her marriage, in Corstorphine, Midlothian, Scotland1871 includingtwo siblings James McNeice born about 1846 Ireland and Margaret McNeice born about 1851 Ireland (However, it is recorded that James is married and Margaret is married so it is possible Margaret isn't a daughter and possibly James' wife even though she is recorder as a daughter on the census, I don't know for sure either way as yet).

Sarah's father was a farm servant in the 1871 Scotland census, most likely a 'ploughman' as was recorded on Sarah's marriage certificate in '72.

Samuel and Susanna married19 Oct 1845 in Drummaul, Antrim, however, I have not been able to confirm this yet, it was just a transcribed record found on ancestry. The names and location match up so I feel confident it is correct.

I beleive Samuel was living with his daughter Mary Harding nee McNeice (Widow) born about 1849 Antrim, and family in 1901 in Ballee, Kells, Antrim as a retired farmer, Samuel died 9 April 1904 in Ballee/Ballymena, Widower, 75 years old, farmer, Jane McNeice (daughter) present.

Samuel's wife Susanna seems to have died between 1871 and 1872 because she was listed as deceaced on daughter Sarah's marriage certificate. I have not been able to locate her death in Scotland or Ireland thus far.

Samuel's birth variesgreatly throughout all records I currently have from 1821 to 1831, but I beleive it would be closer to 1821-25otherwise he would have only been about 14-15 years old when he married Susanna.... He was recorded as 80 years old on the 1901 Irish census, then 75 on his death registration.

I am not having much luck finding any birth records for anyone in Ireland so I am hoping by putting this out there, someone else researching the same name may find this.

Thanks,

Shell

IrelandXO member

1 reply

Shell,

The 1845 marriage cert should give you both Susanna(h) and Samuel’s father’s names. It should also give you bride and groom’s townlands at the time of the marriage. That information may help find further information on the 2 families. You can view the original certificates on-line on the GRONI website, using the “search registrations” option:

https://geni.nidirect.gov.uk

You will need to open an account and buy some credits. It costs £2.50 (sterling) to a view a certificate.

Tradition was to marry in the bride’s church which should be on the marriage certificate.  You say the marriage was in Drummaul, but you don’t say which church. Drummaul is Randalstown. None of the Presbyterian churches in Randalstown has any records earlier than 1845. The Church of Ireland’s records start in 1823. There’s a copy in PRONI.

Statutory birth registration started in 1864 in Ireland (1855 in Scotland). Prior to that you need to rely on church records. However not all churches have records back to the 1820s, and of those that do, not all are on-line. The most complete sets are in PRONI but a personal visit is required to view them.

 

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

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